Tag Archives: Political philosophy

I’m posting here a letter e-mailed by Tim Eyman on the heels of
the loss on Initiative 1125, which would have restricted how
highway tolls can be used. He first makes the case that initiatives
are hard, in large part because you have to judge months ahead what
the electorate will support. That much probably everyone would more
or less agree with.

At least one of his other comments is worth wondering about in
connection with local issues.

“We’ve learned that initiative campaigns are, by far, the
most effective way to increase public awareness, public education,
and public participation in public policy. Initiatives aren’t just
about passing laws; they’re about lobbying the government. And one
of the most important tools of lobbying is public awareness and
public votes. $30 car tabs and the 1% property tax limit are two of
the most prominent examples, but the seeds of victory for this
year’s I-1183 were laid by last year’s I-1100. There are legions of
additional examples where the lobbying effect of an initiative
campaign layed the groundwork for later legislative
action.“

So this makes me wonder about the vets and homeless levy that
failed in a big way here in Kitsap County. It’s not similar to an
initiative in how it was launched. This was not a grass roots
initiative in which a number of voters gathered signatures. This
was launched by government. But could the silver lining for the
levy’s supporters be that the issue was raised at all?

Sure, the measure lost big time. But people are talking about
it. Is there any chance the needs supporters identified will be met
some other way?